Grade 8

Summary of course content and activities:

Language is used to communicate with and have an impact on those around us. As students develop their language skills, they learn to become better communicators, and Language Arts 8 seeks to provide students with the skills necessary to do this. Through the novel studies, students will be introduced to two people who had a tremendous impact on their world through their life-changing experiences. Students will see how these individuals became communicators of God's love through their experience. This course seeks to help students understand the positive impact they can have on their world through language.

Language Arts 8 includes four units with vocabulary, creative writing, research writing, comprehension activities, and grammar exercises. The four units are:

1. Short stories
2. Novel Study: God’s Adventurer (The story of Hudson Taylor)
3. Novel Study: The Hiding Place (The story of Corrie ten Boom)
4. Poetry

Pre-requisite(s):

The pre-requisite course for Language Arts 8 is Language Arts 7.

Materials and resources required:

Provided by NSA:

• Language Arts 8 Online lesson and assignment documents
• LITERATURE: Timeless Voices, Timeless Themes, silver level
• God’s Adventurer
• The Hiding Place

Purchased by student:

• Language Power workbook, Level F (provided by NSA, invoiced to families for workbook cost).

Students should expect to spend at least five hours a week on this class.

Students will be evaluated on assignments provided in the lessons. These include projects, creative writing, grammar exercises, comprehension quizzes, group discussions, etc. These will be submitted to the teacher for marking. Closed-book tests are given throughout the course. There is a final cumulative exam for this course.

The breakdown of marks is as follows:

• Assignments: 65%
• Tests: 25%
• Discussions: 10%

Summary of Course Content and Activities

The content of Math 8 is organized around 8 major units, most of which are continued development from Math 7

• Squares and square roots
• Integers
• Operations with fractions
• Measuring Prisms and Cylinders
• Percent, Ratio, and Rate
• Linear Equations and Graphing
• Data Analysis and Probability
• Geometry

Philosophy statement for teaching this course

The new math courses in Alberta have been developed to give students time to understand the big ideas of math, and not simply memorize formulas and algorithms. This is a challenge in an online environment, but concepts are presented as much as possible in a way that encourages students to think through the ideas themselves. Manipulatives are used where available and appropriate, and technology is integral in many lessons.

Prerequisites

A strong background in Math 7 or equivalent is recommended

Materials and Resources

Provided by NSA

• eText and Video covering all lesson concepts

Purchased by Students

• A scientific calculator - but it does NOT need to be a fancy one.
• Students will need a scanner for submitting work.

Forecasted amount of time required to complete each week's lesson

The course is organized around 36 weeks.

Each week covers some course content, and then provides lots of time to work on practice problems. Each week students write a test.
This would take ROUGHLY 4 - 6 hours a week, depending on the student.

Description of student evaluations, quizzes and tests.

Assignments 50%, Chapter tests 20%, Projects 15% & Final Exam 15%

Summary of course content and activities:

Science 8 includes five units with hands-on activities.

• "Mix and Flow of Matter" is an introductory study of solution chemistry. Students learn about chemical solutions and their properties, including viscosity, density, buoyancy, and pressure
• "Cells and Systems" studies the relationships between the levels of structure in living things - from the individual cell to body systems.
• "Light and Optical Systems" examines light and its behaviour Students explore reflection and refraction using lenses and mirrors.
• "Mechanical Systems" focuses on the study of simple machines and how they work together to form mechanical systems Students examine related forces and how they affect efficiency and effectiveness of machines.
• "Fresh and Salt Water Systems" studies the relationships of various forms of water on the Earth This unit includes brief studies of glaciers, lakes and rivers, and oceans as well as their relationship in the water cycle.

Philosophy statement for and/or behind teaching this course:

It is important for students to learn about and develop an appreciation for the world that God has created This encourages students to become good stewards of natural resources and provides them with an understanding of God’s awesome design in the world To accommodate a variety of learning styles, a variety of activities are provided, including opportunities for students to do hands on activities and experiments.

Pre-requisite(s):

Science 7

Materials and resources provided by NSA, purchased by student, and/or recommended:

Provided by NSA:

• Science Focus 8 textbook

Purchased by student:

• materials for simple machines
• a variety of household materials such as salt, sugar, food coloring, etc.

Forecasted amount of time required to complete each week's lesson:

Students should spend a minimum of 3 hrs per week on the science lessons and activities.

Description of student evaluations, quizzes, and tests:

Students are required to submit a variety of assignments for marking These include research projects, experiment write ups, crossword puzzles, unit tests, etc.

Summary of course content and activities:

Historical Worldviews Examined

• From Isolation to Adaptation: Japan
• Origins of a Western Worldview: Renaissance Europe
• Worldviews in Conflict: The Spanish and the Aztecs.

Grade 8 Social Studies students will examine issues related to contact between societies with differing worldviews.  They will explore elements of worldviews and how these views are expressed by people living in different times and in different places.  Through this inquiry, students will reflect on their own worldviews and assess the influence that the past has had on the present.  Examples will be drawn from Japan, Renaissance Europe and Spanish and Aztec societies.  A Biblical worldview will be reinforced with each concept.   

Philosophy statement for and/or behind teaching this course:

Grade 8 students will learn how intercultural contact between societies leads to significant change and alters each society’s worldview.

Pre-requisite(s):

Students taking Social Studies 8 are presumed to have reached the acceptable standard or better in Social Studies 7.

Materials and resources provided by NSA, purchased by student, and/or recommended:

Provided by NSA:

• Textbook Worldviews: Contact and Change

Recommended but not required:

• Atlas

Forecasted amount of time required to complete each week's lesson:

The Social Studies 8 program will require approximately 60-90 minutes of work each day, which includes reading and assignment work.  The weeks are divided into 4 days of work.   

Description of student evaluations, quizzes, and tests:

Course evaluation will be 70% daily assignments, and 30% tests and quizzes.  Daily assignments will include comprehension questions, critical thinking questions, mapping, projects, research, group discussions, charting/graphing, and more.  Tests will be completed using the on-line ExamView test format.

Summary of Course Content and Activities:

This course will reveal the nature, character, and attributes of God, in light of Scripture, to give teens a better grasp of who God is.  It is based on the premise that the more we know and understand God through a careful study of His Word, the greater will be our personal challenge to maintain a right relationship with Him.

More than simply a body of information, the course translates knowledge into personal applications where students discover how an attribute of God applies to daily life.  Questions are asked, such as: “So what?”, “How does what happened to them, back then, affect me now?”, or “Why is this important to study?”  The answers that are uncovered are what makes this course unique.

Day after day, students will integrate Scripture into their thinking as they face tough questions about who God is, how He interacts with His creation, and how we are to look at the God of the universe.  Students will end the year with a greater understanding of God, hopefully motivating them to a life of obedience and faithfulness to Him.

Philosophy Statement:

Understanding the Biblical worldview, taking into account the attributes of God and the theological underpinnings of Scripture, should help students know God more intimately and thereby grow in their personal relationship with the One who can save them, Jesus Christ.

Prerequisites:

Bible 7 would be helpful but is not required.

Materials:

• Bible (ESV is preferred, but the NASB, KJV, NKJV, or NIV₁₉₈₄ will also work).
• PC computer (not an Apple, Chromebook, or iPad).
• Internet access, printer, and a scanner.
• Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint).
• Google Docs.

Forecasted Amount of Time:

3-4 hours per week.

Evaluation:

Assignments – 100%

Summary of Course Content and Activities:

Through participation in this course, students will acquire a variety of skills related to both movement and physical activity; understand and appreciate the health benefits of living an active lifestyle as they both experience and participate in physical activity; learn the importance of interacting positively with others, both in the context of teamwork and sportsmanship; and assume responsibility for leading a healthy, active lifestyle.

There are 4 terms, which each term focussing on a different unit of study: 1) Wellness Choices; 2) Relationship Choices; 3) Life Learning Choices; and 4) Mental Health.

Philosophy Statement:

In Luke 2:52, Scripture tells us that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man.”  Just as Jesus had to learn and mature physically, students also need to grow into their own physical stature and learn social skills in order to cope with the daily happenings in our lives.  In order to process life’s experiences correctly, we need to develop a biblical worldview, which is part of the content of this course.

Prerequisites:

Students taking HPE 8 are presumed to have reached the acceptable standard in Health & Physical Education 7 (HPE 7).

Materials:

• PC computer (not an Apple, Chromebook, or iPad).
• Internet access, printer, and a scanner.
• Microsoft Office 365 (provided to NorthStar students if you don’t currently own it).
• Bible (ESV, NIV₁₉₈₄, KJV, NKJV, NASB).

Forecasted Amount of Time:

2-4 hours per week.

Evaluation:

Assignments (Health) – 50%

Monthly Physical Activity Logs (PE) – 50%

INTRO TO CODING (GR. 7-9)

Summary of course content and activities:

In Intro to Coding, students will explore block-based programming code as well as program with Scratch.  We may also explore Python. Coding allows students to use their creativity and problem-solving skills. Students will program a virtual Ferris Wheel or program a virtual robot. This class will take 2-3 hours a week and has 12 lessons. No coding experience is needed but this class is also good for those with some previous coding experience. 

LEARNING WITH MINECRAFT (GR. 7-9)

Summary of course content and activities:

Learning with Minecraft is a 12 lesson option course that will take a minimum of 2 hours per week. Students who enjoy playing the game will want to spend more time building, however! Students will use Minecraft to recreate scenes from poetry or books, create models in Minecraft to represent actual buildings like the Eiffel Tower, they will also learn to take screenshots and screen videos. One of the assignments is showing the parents the Minecraft world they create and explaining why Minecraft is a great way to learn. There are more challenges that students will have and badges that they can earn.
 

TECH TOOLS (GR. 7-9)

Summary of course content and activities:

10+ Apps Every Student Needs will cover the following:

• Digital Citizenship: Appropriately using digital technology like cell phones, computers, and websites.
• Word Clouds: A great tool to summarize information or pick out important ideas.
• Screen Captures: How to use screen capture software on your computer.
• Online tools for bibliography creation.
• Google slide.
• Web page design (2 weeks).
• Meme-making: So much fun!
• Making comic strips.
• Making timelines.
• Study tools: Things like how to build a jeopardy game.
• Piktochart: Infographics, reports, and presentations.

This is a 12-week course and will require about 2-3 hours per week.

Summary of course content and activities:

In this Foods course, students will explore basic food and kitchen safety, Canada's Food Guide, making nutritious snacks, planning meals and cooking basic meals. Students will learn some baking skills and develop a heritage food meal. They will be expected to complete several assignments and assessments as well as two projects.  No previous cooking or baking skills are required.

Summary of course content and activities:

In Outdoor Education, students will explore outdoor safety, proper outdoor clothing,  fire building and safety, bear safety, shelter building, identifying animal tracks, ORV safety and environmental stewardship. They will be required to do some research and create some projects.  They will also need to have opportunities to try new outdoor activities and plan and execute a day trip such as a hike or canoe trip.  No previous outdoor experience is required.